The Samsung Galaxy Note (and its unheard of size) has been a hot topic since its AT&T release this past week, and we have seen quite a few conflicting opinions on the practicality of the device over the last few days. Many say that the gigantic screen prevents users from carrying it around comfortably, while others claim that it doesn't feel much different than any other phone. I've had the pleasure of using the Note for the past week, and I must say that I am incredibly impressed.

When I first opened up the Galaxy Note's box I was astonished by its size. It was much bigger than I had imagined, and I immediately thought that carrying it around with me was going to be cumbersome and annoying. It felt awkward in my hands, didn't fit well in my jeans, and I just thought it was completely hilarious that Samsung thought a phone of this size would work out well. Fast forward a week and you'll hear the exact opposite from me. After adjusting to carrying around what seemed like a small tablet, I fell in love. The device itself isn't completely free of flaws, but the massive screen definitely isn't one of them.

At A Glance

So, what's stuffed behind that screen? Here's a full list of specifications:

5.3" 800 x 1280 HD super AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass

1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor

1GB of ram

16GB of internal memory, expandable via microSD

8MP camera with 1080p HD video capabilities

2MP front-facing camera

2,500 mAh battery

178g (6.28 ounces)

5.78" x 3.27" x 0.38"

Android 2.3.6 with Samsung's latest TouchWiz UX

4G-LTE capable

802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi

It's clear that the Note is a beast, but as I said before, it isn't completely perfect. Let's take a look at the good and the bad.

The Good

Screen size. At first, I was convinced that this feature would ultimately become a nuisance, but it grew on me after I got used to the size and realized how useful extra screen real estate would actually be.

The display. Not only is it big, but the HD super AMOLED display makes anything and everything look beautiful.

Battery life. This thing obviously needs a lot of power, and the 2,500 mAh battery provides enough juice to get through a day of heavy use.

It's thin and light. It's nothing short of incredible that this thing weights only 178g. That, combined with a thin design, is what makes the size more than manageable.

The Bad

Android 2.3.6. If anything could make the Note better, it's ICS. Though I don't understand why we're still seeing high-end phones go live without Android 4.0, I hope we see it soon.

Missing Software Optimization. To adapt to a screen of this size, the software would obviously need some tweaking. This appears to be something that Samsung overlooked, and it really bothers me.

TouchWiz. I talked about how I liked Samsung's TouchWiz much more than HTC's Sense, and I still really do, but some parts of TouchWiz just suck.

Bloatware. This is always a con when it comes to new phones. There honestly isn't too much bloatware preinstalled on the Note, but I still hate it.

Design And Build Quality

If I had to describe this phone in one word, it would be sexy. While it is surprisingly light for its size, you can definitely tell that it's of high quality when you turn it over in your hands. It's thin and sleek, and has a nice aluminum edge that lines the sides of the device. The 5.3" screen is protected by Gorilla Glass, so you can be confident that it won't shatter if you drop it from a reasonable height.

The main difference between the International and AT&T variants is that AT&T's Note has a row of capacitive buttons along the bottom of the screen instead of one big home button. In my opinion, this makes the entire phone look so much nicer. This is the first phone I've had with capacitive buttons, too, and I feel that they aid greatly in making the device feel high-end. This phone is designed and built much better than my MyTouch 4G.

The one part of the overall design that I would change is the plastic backing. It looks nice, so it doesn't take away from the overall appearance, but it feels extremely cheap. It snaps onto the back of the device with little plastic pegs, and I feel like I'm going to break those off or crack the entire thing in half every time I have to remove it. Though I personally don't like the material, I have heard that it's incredibly durable, and, being so thin, it definitely helps keep overall weight down.

S-Pen

This tiny little stylus (and the huge screen, of course) is what differentiates the Samsung Galaxy Note from other phones currently on the market. The S-Pen is just big enough to comfortably fit in your hand in the writing position, and small enough to tuck away into the bottom of the device when you don't want to use it. It sports an ultra-fine tip that responds to pressure, and a small button on the side that enables gesture controls when pressed.

The Galaxy Note comes preloaded with an app called S Memo, which is basically a notepad for writing and drawing. In my opinion, taking actual notes on this thing is absolutely impossible. Yes, I said it - it's pretty impractical to use your Samsung Galaxy Note as a note-taking machine. It could just be that my handwriting is horrendous, but I don't think anyone could possibly remain productive when attempting to jot notes down with the S-Pen.

That being said, drawing stuff using S Memo and the S-Pen is ridiculously fun! I don't have any artistic talent by any means, but that didn't stop me from believing I could draw anything on this device.

If you're looking for something that will actually aid in productivity, you can use this handy dandy stylus to navigate your device, summon S Memo, and even take screenshots that you can annotate, highlight, and doodle on. To navigate the screen you can hold the side button and swipe up to simulate the menu button, swipe left to simulate the back button, and swipe down to simulate the home button. To summon S Memo, hold the side button and double-tap the screen; hold the button and long-press the screen to take a screenshot.

Display And Battery Life

Alright, let's admit it. This is what we're all truly interested in. Is the Note's 5.3" HD super AMOLED display too much to handle? Wouldn't a screen of that size and quality drain a battery double-fast?

Samsung took a huge leap of faith when they released the largest phone currently known to man, so it's no surprise that they would deliver an astonishing screen along with it. This phone's screen is by far the best I've ever seen on any smartphone, and it certainly blows any other device I've ever owned out of the water. Anything you view on the screen comes out beautifully.

It's no question that doing things like browsing the web and checking email are done much better on a larger screen, and the Galaxy Note offers just enough extra screen space to make these tasks a breeze. I've never been more pleased with a mobile device's display. Watching movies and videos on the HD screen is an experience in and of itself, the touchscreen is fast and responsive, and it performs flawlessly in all lighting situations.

Initially, I was afraid that all the power this phone packs would demolish the battery in no time, sending me on a desperate search for an outlet mid-day, but I was completely wrong. The 2,500 mAh battery easily powers through a day of moderate to heavy use with a bit to spare at the end. On most days I ended with about 20% left, which completely obliterates my MyTouch 4G's battery.

Camera

The 8MP rear camera on the Galaxy Note is also pretty sweet. Not only does it deliver some pretty high-quality shots for a phone camera, but it has some pretty extensive settings as well.

In addition to being able to tweak things like ISO and exposure value, you can choose from several different shooting modes and scenes. The basic shooting mode is Single shot, which features a quick shutter speed and is good for snapping quick pictures. I think the two coolest shooting modes are Smile shot and Panorama. In smile shot, the camera detects when the subject smiles then takes the photo automatically, and I'm sure you're all familiar with what a panorama is.

Overall, this camera could easily replace a small point-and-shoot if you're looking to capture spontaneous moments on the go. Nearly any type of shot I threw at it came out great, with the exception of close-up macro shots. The camera had a hard time focusing on a small subjects, but if I'm looking to get artistic I would take a DSLR over the Note's camera any day.

The 2MP front-facing camera isn't something to sneeze at, either. It is still pretty decent quality for being only 2MP, but I don't really ever use front-facing cameras unless I absolutely have to.

Overall Performance

The dual-core snapdragon processor is really noticeable when switching back and forth between a phone that only has a single-core processor. Everything from transitioning between screens to opening and closing apps is just so smooth and quick. Not once did I notice any lag.

AT&T's 4G LTE is leaps and bounds better than T-Mobile's crappy 4G network. Web pages loaded in a snap, apps and games downloaded just about as fast as I could click download, and I was even receiving emails on the Note about 5 seconds earlier than my other devices.

Reception and call quality were phenomenal. I had a full, strong 4G LTE signal everywhere I went. I even had a phone conversation during the duration of a 10-story elevator ride without cutting out once. Conversations were always crystal clear, even when on speakerphone.

Speaking of the speaker, that tiny little thing on the bottom left of the back cover is the phone's only speaker. It sounds wonderful. I played games and music on full blast, and the audio was always perfect. There is no doubt in my mind that the Galaxy Note has the best speaker I've ever seen on a phone.

The Note's UI and UX are pretty nice, but could definitely use some fixes. It runs Android 2.3.6 with Samsung's TouchWiz overlay. While I kind of like TouchWiz, I listed it as a negative above, and here's why: Samsung tweaked the UI to work better on a larger screen, but it's obvious that they didn't optimize the software as best they could. As I mentioned in my initial review, the best way to see what I'm talking about is to look at some of the widgets. Many of them are clearly designed to fit across a smaller screen. I find this to be a pretty amateur mistake, and that bothers me quite a bit. In addition, TouchWiz causes performance hiccups I couldn't reproduce with a custom launcher. The most notable issue is with the default circle lock screen; It often lags and locks up when trying to move the circle to unlock the screen.

Other than those minor complaints, I can honestly say that this is the best phone I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Conclusion

At first I was afraid (I was petrified) I would have trouble handling the device with one hand, but it became easier after some practice. The overall size didn't really make much of a difference after using the phone for a while, but I will admit that making phone calls was still a little odd because the device covers your whole face.

This phone packs a ton of power, has a hefty battery that can outlast a full day of use, and once you get used to it, the additional screen space makes productivity even better. Unfortunately it runs on Android 2.3.6 with Samsung's TouchWiz UX that hasn't been properly fitted for the device, so some visual and performance issues arise. If Samsung fixes these issues with the rollout of Android 4.0 then everything will be gravy.

If you've been skeptical about spending your hard-earned money on this phone, you have no reason to be anymore. This is positively one of the best phones available on the market, and if you're thinking of switching to AT&T for it or adding a new line to an existing contract, you can get it for a mere $150 from AT&T's website for a limited time. Otherwise, you can snag it for $299.99 with a new two-year agreement.

Brandon says he likes to live life on the edge. By that he means eating ice cream for breakfast and wearing house slippers to class. Aside from all of the ballsy action he partakes in, he's a mass communications student that spends much of his time studying or tinkering with his phone.

Comments

Bervick

I need to waste a little time with a prologue/monologue on size. Why is it for reviewers to find a concept so hard to grasp. Do you buy an SUV, then complain that it is bigger than a car ? Or a Ford truck, then complain it is not as easy to park as a corolla ? A corolla and an SUV and a Ford truck will all fit inside a garage. So will the Note in a pocket or in your hand. If you are a male about 6ft +/- a few, for eg with normal sized hands and use a size L shirt, the note will fit in your shirt pocket without coming out. It will flush with your pocket and someone wont be able to see the top of the phone. Unless it is a tiny/small shirt pocket. It will not fit in skinny jeans or spandex.

I think all reviewers need to review this device for what it is. A large phone. It should be a review with that AS A GIVEN. And move on from there. There is just the Dell Streak (failed), Note (market success in international markets; US remains to be seen) & the upcoming LG Vu (4:3 wider body and more difficult to wield) in this new category.

For people WHO INTENTIONALLY want this kind of a device, you need to rate the device in that category.

I own this phone. I LOVE IT. Now I see why people would say iOS looks boring and dated. I thought they were being excessive and immature till I started adding widgets and saw how useful they were. And my battery life has not suffered btw.

How a reviewer must review this device :
1. Review it in its category of device - phablet if you will.
2. Review it then without the bias of comparing it to a non-phablet device. How is the perf, battery life, display etc.. without talking again and again about the damn size.

Try the device yourself in your own hands and pockets. Don't base it on how it looks on others with your bias filter predetermined. You might be surprised at how easy it is to use than you think it would be. And how gorgeous the display is. Not just colors. Even tiny text is easy to read (the resolution/285 ppi is very good for reading text; you won't care about the 331 ppi) . The first time you see thin white lines like the intro screen of Dolphin HD (which has white line arrows showing tips set against a blurred background) your jaw will drop. It can only be seen in reality. No amt of screen grabs on the internet will show it on your monitor. It is stunning. You can see white text looking gorgeous in many places. But in some, it is just OUTSTANDING. You have to find some egs. like I mentioned above to see it more pronounced. Then you'll know.

Oh, Dolphin HD (with a plug in) with a simple side swipe shows me a tiny switch. I can simply click it and I instantly can switch to the Desktop view for that site. Flip the device in landscape and enjoy.

S-PEN (Stylus)
This uses EMR (electro magnetic resonance) which means you can use it WITH GLOVES or in cold conditions in winter where your cold fingers would NOT work on an iPhone (where it needs heat).
You can use the stylus if you are an artist.
You can use the stylus if you just want to have fun
You can use the stylus if you want to annotate a clip and email it
You can use the stylus if you want to precisely cut out a shirt or dress, overlay it and resize in on your picture and see how you look in that shirt for eg.
You can use the stylus where you need precision that a finger does not provide.
It is NOT a throwback to the PDA, morons. You do NOT HAVE to use it.

Got it ? Moving on.

Summary :
If you're a big talker and do not have giant hands or a BT headset, you may not like this phone. If you care about what the uneducated and biased masses think (initially) about this phone, it might not be for you.
If you are more of a data user than a voice user and want all that you consume on the internet to be enjoyed in a more sane size, this is perfect. If you do not want to spend money on a tablet with an additional data plan and carry the tablet everywhere, this is perfect. If you want VERY good build quality, good performance, a stunning display and go in with the full knowledge about its size, it is perfect. Just know that you won't be able to ONE-HAND TEXT and WALK at the same time without risking dropping the device. That is the only salient point regd size. Not about how it looks. It looks fantastic and it looks practical as long as you understand what the complete situation is. It's an SUV of phones, not a Corolla and not a Ford-350 truck either.

Lastly, let me remind you that the genius aspect of the iPhone was to get rid of WASTED SPACE with the keyboard so that you could have a more PRODUCTIVE (larger) screen. That was 2007. Welcome to 2012. The bar has been raised.

If you're a woman, you have an advantage of carrying purses and have a choice of very nice cases to go with it. You can choose trendy or business woman. Guys can choose to go with wallet replacements like the SGP Valentinus leather wallets for eg. They will also carry your credit cards and out you go, independent man/woman. Don't be a lemming. Choose your own path.

kissmyassapple

great comment, i go with "don't be a lemming". for real ppl, if you like the damn thing who cares. i would love to get this phone, but i run a lot and i put my phone in my shorts' side pocket, seems like it would be too big for activities. as far as size, the extra screen would be awesome, i would imagine a large reduction in scrolling. lastly not to be mean, but if you really care that you'll look silly with this phone, perhaps an iphone would be more your style. :(

Jon Garrett

dude, get a fanny pack. and I dont mean those old style types.

when I run, I strap mine on in the front, put my keys, wallet and phone in it. NEVER, EVER put anything in my pockets in case I have to outrun a dog or a mugger.

David Ruddock

All consumer technology is a "choice." BlackBerry fans make the same arguments - it's their choice, and they believe it's the best device for their needs. That doesn't mean a reviewer can't absolutely pan the newest RIM hardware for being outdated, slow, and completely irrelevant. While Brandon obviously liked the Note, as did a number of other reviewers there are plenty of other reviewers who disagreed. That does not objectively make either opinion wrong. It's an opinion.

It's the almost evangelical zeal with which Note fanboys are willing to defend the device that puts me off. Just like the guy who buys a Prius, they have to let everyone know that they bought something different and that it is objectively better and that everyone else should buy one, too. Clearly, if the iPhone can take up 30% of the smartphone market, not everyone thinks a bigger screen is better.

I'm not sure what Note fanboys are out to prove, but they're certainly vocal about it.

http://www.brgulker.tumblr.com brgulker

I'm not sure what Note fanboys are out to prove, but they're certainly vocal about it.

+1

Omar

if the iphone 5 is 5.3", will sell the same or more.
because is a iphone...

Matt

"It's the almost evangelical zeal with which Note fanboys are willing to defend the device that puts me off...I'm not sure what Note fanboys are out to prove, but they're certainly vocal about it."

You sure like to twist reality. Your rant just perfectly describes the crApple fanboys, not the Note owners. I didn't think I'd see the crApple reality distortion field at work on an Android site.

Almost every single positive comment or review about the Note on the web has been very well reasoned and objectively stated.

On the flip side every negative review or comment on the Note has been rabid, illogical, immature, and ignorant.

Don't know why you felt the need to distort the truth by switching how crApple fanboys and Note owners behave.

All this lecturing about respecting choice falls flat when generally no Note supporter has been behaving like you claim they do. And even if a few outliers are more passionate, it's because there's been a deluge of irrational and ignorant negativity against the Note in the first place from the media.

Bervick

@David

The 30% statistic is completely pointless. When it comes to size, that affects both iOS users and Android users or any OS for that matter. If the iPhone came with 3.5", 4.5" and 5" screens, it would be very very interesting to see the figures. The iPhone is a good device. Not denying that. But it has wasted a lot of bezel space. Look at how the Galaxy Nexus has optimized the screen real estate.

It's not like you cannot criticize it. Most device owners would ignore it. But one can't help but think these are all iPhone users being bitter. And I'll reiterate the point above. If the size was that absurd, you'd find Android users complaining too. Some Android users just say they like it but it's not a size they can deal with. Fine. Maybe if they try it for a week, they might change their mind.

By far the best review of Note I have read. And I have read dozens of them. Congrats for putting it all in such powerful language. I have been using my Note since January 6 and love it. Vilas

gauravhrg

Nothing else can describe the soul purpose of this phone in a better way... Being a note user, agreed with each and every bit of it... :-)

http://www.academia-nutcrackers.com Sven Enterlein

I really enjoy reading all the positive reviews for the Note. Maybe at one point I can get one too. But I'll still wait until the MWC has finished to see what's the next next generation :)

Bervick

PS : Brandon/ Author :

Pls ignore my comment. It was not directed against you. I just copied/pasted from another website where I had posted it.

Thanks for your in-depth review.

Brandon Lancaster

If it wasn't directed towards this review then I'm not sure why you pasted it. Your first point doesn't really have any relevance to this review because I essentially reviewed the device "as given" with the large screen.

It's obvious that I would touch base on the screen size though, because it is a highly debated topic at the moment. I also don't understand how comparing it to a smaller device is some sort of foul. It's clear that this phone is much larger than any other, and people like to see comparisons.

I appreciate your opinion and overview on the topics you covered in your copy/paste, but please tailor it to fit the review you plan on attaching it to. Blindly copy/pasting that onto reviews without reading sends the wrong message if it doesn't exactly pertain (particularly the first part of your comment) to the review in question.

Bervick

You are so right about that, Brandon. I was in a hurry to leave the office and did not get to do that. It seems like I cannot edit the post. I have no issues with size comparisons because it is a factor.

If you can add this to the top of my post, that should set the context. Then you can delete this if you wish.

Begin quote to prefix above
----
Thank you Brandon for your very insightful and detailed review. My response below is NOT directed at you or your review. It was my response to people who review the device irresponsibly as so :

Balls If i am travelling and need to access this device with one hand, its just not feasible. Its damn too big. And if it needs a stylus sorry you are missing the imp. touch. If you compare it in the tablet world its too small.

Frank

It doesn't NEED the stylus, that's the point.
The stylus is there for tasks where a stylus is simply better. i.e. writing, drawing, precision tasks, wearing gloves, etc.

You'd be surprised how much you can do with one hand, esp. if you have the 'one handed' keyboard on the international note. And yes, it's smaller than most tablets, but it's pocketable which makes it much much much more convenient and practical. It's a trade off.

N0ISV

Its NOT a stylus...its a S pen?

Jonathan

Good review, I love the note without having one.

i did have a Dell streak for a while.

I have my Captivate Running ICS So i will never down grade back to anything less.
so unless the note gets it very soon i will wait for the note 2!!

Cant wait Maybe quad cpu, 2gb of ram
Insane screen. cant wait

sgman

I've owned the international version of this phone since November. It's really fantastic and I highly recommend this product. It's my first experience with an Android phone (coming from an iphone) and I'm really enjoying the experience. Particularly the fact that I have a mini-(tablet, e-reader, note taker) with me on the go. Highly useful for both creative and business, as I was searching for the largest screen possible that could still fit in my pocket (I even made card board cut outs of the Note and the Nexus to see how they would fit!). Portability is not an issue, and calls are not awkward so I don't feel like I'm trading any comfort for the additional screen space. Hope everyone who picks up this device enjoys it!

WU

To the author, Brandon Lancaster. In what city was your review done in? I presume within the US.

http://www.brgulker.tumblr.com brgulker

I'm glad to see this phone getting good reviews.

However, I am a little bit concerned about the trend in the Android world with screen size.

I own a Galaxy Nexus, and frankly, I can't imagine owning a phone any bigger than this one. I have very average sized hands for a guy of my height and build - I can't quite palm a basketball.

And frankly, if the Nexus were any bigger, it would be clumsy for me to use.

I want to be able to use my phone comfortably and safely with one hand, and I hope that this trend toward increasingly bigger screen sizes doesn't get ... dare I say it ... any more out of hand.

Skillit

So Brandon as a men that has dabbled with many of the great Android devices of recent tell us (me) your honest opinion

Galaxy Nexus or Samsung Note ?

Disclaimer: I don't live in the US so I will be getting the GSM international version of either.

Brandon Lancaster

I've actually never had the pleasure of using the Galaxy Nexus for an extended period of time.

But if you break it down in terms of specifications, the Note has both a slightly better processor and screen. But other than that, the specs are pretty close to the same. However, the Galaxy Nexus currently runs on Android 4.0, so that's a big plus.

I guess it just comes down to how big you'd like your screen to be, and if features on either phone are more appealing than the other. I'd encourage you to go to a place you could try them both out, hold them in your hands, and then decide.

Sshawn

One of the best reviews of the Note I've seen. Pleasure to read Brandon.

jordan

Doesn't it have an exysnos processor? No crapdragon for me thanks.

http://www.AndroidPolice.com Artem Russakovskii

The U.S. version doesn't have the Exynos, unfortunately.

Lon Lawrence

First of all, I don't find the Note responsive. It's laggy (at least until we get the ICS update). The battery is adequate, but not that great. It fits in all my shirt pockets, so if you wear t-shirts, you'll have to carry it in your back pocket (which I don't like because I might sit on it and break it). And, while I don't have huge hands, I find it's a one-handed phone perfectly. You can walk and talk on it with one hand and there's no fear of dropping it (come on, guys, have you actually walked and talked with it in one hand? If you have you'd know it's not THAt big.) Most people don't even notice you're talking on a large phone. The screen size makes it more usable for everything than the 4.3" screens. Portrait typing is a breeze as the keys are large enough to hit the right ones (I always used to have to go to landscape to actually type fast without mistakes). The physical home key (ala iphone) of the international model is a LOT better than the capacitive buttons and the processor is faster and less battery hungry than the snapdragon. However, my buddy has had two of them and both of them has the same problem. The capacitive keys lock up and you can't use the return button until you re-start the phone. He's getting ready to send the second one back. I just played with it and there's no cure. We tried doing hot reboots with a "fast reboot" app, didn't help, tried using the built-in task manager to close programs and free up memory, no help. Have to restart the phone. So beware of that possible problem. Maybe ICS will solve the problem, but he has a 30 day return window at Amazon so we can't wait for ICS to be released.

Joe Hall

Why do you say the "battery is adequate, but not that great" when the Note lasts longer than literally every other smartphone except for the maxx?

Planoman

I have both models also and have had the ATT model since launch and have no idea what you mean with the buttons freezing up. I have not experienced this even once...maybe a defective phone or two, certainly not seeing this a a major issue on the boards...

Charles

How is the batter "adequate, but not that great" when the Note lasts longer than literally every other smartphone except for the maxx?

http://tantrajnaan.com Robert Dunn

My only fears for buying this are my nerd fears of it quickly being overshadowed by quad-core next week and a small concern of the size. What's your opinion on the up-to-date-edness of the Note?

N0ISV

Had the G Note for 6 days, and I have yet to drop the battery below 1/4 charge.

http://www.AndroidPolice.com Artem Russakovskii

Maybe on airplane mode...

theanuragest

I think it will be matter of time when the size like that of note will be preffered bcoz until you hold it you are in a state of monster size but after sometime you start liking the whole concept & a pen gets very innovative ...but as I said for saying anything about note you should once hold it & then decide.

Planoman

Nice job on the review! Glad you like the GNote! Anyone who enjoys great devices and spends a week with this device will be sold! I love it! Cannot go back to the same ole thing anymore! Skyrocket going by by.

EZ

Can someone please bring me up to date on the pros/cons of the international version vs. the US version? More precisely, I want to know if both versions can be updated to ICS. I somehow have in my mind that the physical buttons as opposed to the capacitive buttons may be an issue. Thanks!

Shell

how do i go about removing games from the note once they have been loaded onto it ie either stopped working or no longer required